COLUMBIA - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri Inc. is gearing up to open a new home in Columbia this week.

The project broke ground behind the MU Women's and Children's Hospital in 2011. Four years and more than two million dollars later, the organization is anxious to welcome families.

Terri Gray, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri Inc., thinks families will love their new home away from home.

"I think they're going to be amazed and impressed and just so grateful that the community reached out and has built this tremendous facility," Gray said. "It's beautiful, it's big and we can serve so many more families. I think they're going to be very pleased."

The new facility houses 18 total bedrooms, ten more than the current home. The house also boasts several lounges, laundry facilities and a guest pantry.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony is Tuesday evening at 5 p.m., but families in the old facility will not move into the new home until the following day.

Ronald McDonald House Charities provides affordable temporary housing for families with children in hospitals all over the world. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri Inc. has already served more than 25,000 families since it first opened in 1983. The organization hopes to serve many more with this new home.